Pile-delivery governor



May 6 1924.

. c. w. HARRQLD FILE DELIVERY GOVERNOR Filed Sept. 13.

1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I. 1 mm. W E f E Caw/es 244/741 35 @Ibt I May 6 1924. 1,492,687

- C. W. HARROLD FILE DELIVERY GOVERNOR Filed Sept. 13. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1924.

umrso STATES PATENT CHARLES w. HARROLD, or cLnvELAnn, OHIO, ASSIG'NOB TO THE HARRIS AUTOMATIC PRESS COMP-ANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, 'A CORPQRATION or OHIO.

PILErDELIVERY GOVERNOR.

Application filed September 13 1921. Serial No. 500,343.

is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part W thereof.

My inventlon relates to. certain unprovements in they pile governing devices usually embodied in sheet-delivery mechanism employed in connection with printing or like machines for taking successive sheets or stock from the press or machine, and transferring same to a pile-receiving table which shall be automatically lowered, to accommodate the growth ofthe pile of sheets de- 2 posited upon such table, and my invention particularly relates to the control and actuation of the table-lowering devices.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide an improved pile 2 delivery governor, or a mechanism which will be operatively connected with the delivery mechanism, or with the printing-press proper, or even with an independent source of power, to automatically and intermittently inaugurate the operation of the tablelowering devices whenever the growth of the pile of sheets on such table exceeds a predetermined height, the operation of such table-lowering devices being primarily controlled by a detector armthat is slightly raised by contact with the outer margin of the sheets after the pile exceeds the predetermined height. A further object of my invention is to provide a simplified pile-delivery governor which will have a direct and positive control on the table-lowering devices, and is susceptible to manual adjustment orvariation in action to accommodate different thicknesses of sheets, though the operation itself is intermittent, depending on whether the parts are brought into operative relation by the pile itself contacting with and thereafter slight-1y lifting the detector arm. T

An important feature of novelty in my pile delivery governor is that the detector arm is normally out of contact with the sheets as they are deposited on the table, such sheetsbein delivered on such table against he-re pi uar r he t t aw assay of lib raising and lowering the detector arm in each cycle of operation. A further feature of advantage in my improved mechanism is that the detector arm need only contactwith the outer margin of the pile at co1npara tively infrequent intervals, and then only for a moment when such detector is slightly raised to inaugurate the action of the tablelowering devices, thus minimizing the constant danger of smutting the freshly printed sheets, or of causing ofiset on the immediately'subjacent sheet.

VVith these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the construction and arrangement of operating parts herein shown andhereafter to be described as one embodiment of my invention and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevationof a chain delivery mechanism and attached table-lowering devices equipped with my improved pile delivery governor Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the stop finger, the section being taken on the line 22 shown in Figure 8;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4; is an enlarged face view of the latch mechanism which automatically controls. the lowering of the table;

Figure 5 is anend view thereof looking from'the right in Figure 1-;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the action of the stop finger when the detector arm isv raised by the ile:

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the operation of the latch mechanismand means used to reset the latch and pawl. 1

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the frame for supporting my improved attachment comprises the upright standards 10 and 1 1 which, carry two equally spaced-apart horizontal members 12 (only one such member'12- and one set of standards 10 and 11 being shown in Figure 1). Upon the depending bracket 13 are journalled the sprocketwheels Hand on opposite ends of the horizontal member 12 are jou'rnalled the sprockets and 16, the sprocket 15 being capable-of lateral adjustment on the member as. shown. Around these sprocket wheels pass the delivery chains 17 in the direction of the arrows (only one set of sprockets and chains being shown) in carrying the successive sheets from the printing or other like machine. The grippers 18 carry the sheets to the left in Figure 1, and deposit. same on the pile-receiving table 19 to form the pile 20 when the leading edge of the sheet contacts with the vertical hinged pile guards 21. Since these are common forms of printing machinery construction and are well-known in the art, they need not be more fully described.

The pile-receiving table 19 is shown suspended by supporting chains 22 (only one being shown) which pass over sprocket wheels 23 and 24 secured to the shaft 25 which is journalled in the brackets 26 and 27 afiixed to the horizontal member 12. Also secured to the shaft 25 is the wormgear 28 which enmeshes with the idler gear 29; the gear 29 engages and coacts with the large gear 30 keyed to the stub shaft 31 journalled in the bracket13. When the gear 30 is rotated in a clock-wise direction the shaft 25 is revolved. in a direction so as to unwind the chains 22 from their sprockets 23 and 24 to lower the table 19 to accommodate the growth of the pile 20 in such table.

The means for intermittently and automatically lowering the table 19 to allow for the. gradual growth of the sheetpile 20 comprises the following mechanism best shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5: Secured to the shaft 32 of sprocket 14 is the crank-plate 33, the shaft 32 making one revolution to each sheet delivered on the table, or in other words, during one cycle of operation of the sheet delivery mechanism. 'The plate 33. carries the wrist-pins 34 .to which is pivoted the crank rod 35 connected with thelower end 36 of a bell-crank lever 36 mounted on the collar 37 journalled to the stub shaft 31 next to the gear 30 as shown in Figure 5. The upper end 38 of the bell-lever carries the laterally extending pin 39 on which is pivoted the pawl 40 which is arranged to ride over or engage the ratchet 41 keyed to the shaft 31 according to requirements. Between the collar 37 and the ratchet 41 is the sleeve 42 loosely mounted on the shaft 31, on which sleeve 42 is affixed the bell-crank lever 43 having, the arm 44 which carries the latch-lug 45 projecting laterally to engage and coact with the pawl 40 so as to hold the latter out of engagement with the ratchet 41. The lug 45 is shapedtohave a recessed shoulder 46 upon which the tip 47 of the pawl 40 bears to hold the pawl 40 out of engagement with the ratchet 41 as 'shown in Figure 4. The spring 48 secured to the pin 49 on the pawl 40 is connected to the pin 50 on the sleeve 42 to hold the tip 47 in frictional engagement with the shoulder 46 whereby the pawl and latch oscillate together as shown in Figure 4. To the lower end 51 of the bell-lever 43 is pivoted the connecting rod 52 secured to the bell-crank lever 53 pivoted at 54 to the hori zontal member 12 as shown in Figure 1.

Extending rearwardly from the lever 53 is the rod 55 pinned to the rock arm 56 secured to the shaft 57 journalled in the arm 58 extending from the bracket 59 affixed to the standard 10 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and .3. Depending from the shaft 57 and secured to the rock-arm 56 is .the oscillating lug 60 having the notch 61 cut therein as shown in Figures 1 and 6. In the bracket 59 is journalled the transverse rock-shaft 62, the lateral adjustment of the shaft 62 being secured by the screw-pin 63 as shown in Figure 3. The outer end of shaft 62 carries the collar 64 rigidly secured thereto and the lug 65 projects rearwardly and carries the adjusting screw.66 extending upwardly as shown in Figure 2, the point of the screw 65 being adapted to contact with the ledge 67 formed in the bracket 59 as shown in Figures2 and 3 to regulate the position of the detector arm which is thereby held out of contact with the pile 20 at normal elevation. Extending outwardly from the collar 64 is the stop finger 68 having the tip 69 adapted to engage with the notch 61 when the finger 68 is lifted as shown in Figure 6 such engagement preventing the normal oscillation of the lugs 60.

Projecting inwardly from the rock-shaft 62 over the pile to contact with the rear margin thereof is aflixed the bent-up detector arm 70 (Figures 1 and 6) which has a slight vertically reciprocating movement gauged by the movement of the lug 65 through the lowering and raising of the adjusting screw 66 from and against the ledge 67 as shown in Figure 2, the arm 70 being thereby held off the pile when the latter is at normal elevation. When the arm 7 O is raised by the accumulated pile the finger 68 is also lifted and engages with the notch 61 in the lug 60 to intercept its normal oscillation and that of the rock-arm 56 as shown in Figure 6; in Figure 1 the arm 70 is shown in its lowered position with the finger 68 lowered and out of the path of the lug 60.

Means are provided to reset the pawl 40 in shoulder 46 of the latch-lug 45 after engagement with the ratchet 41 and are best shown in Figures 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9: The pawl 40 carries the laterally-projecting lug 72 secured thereto by the pin 73. Loosely secured to the shaft 31 is the plate 74 which is held in proper position by the rod 75 pivotted at 76 to the plate 74 the rear end of the rod 75 being adjustably secured by the set-screw 77 to the bracket 78 affixed to the standard 11. as shown in Figure 1. The upper end of the plate 7.4 has the block 7 9 pivoted thereend of the block 79 and the pin 84 set in the 7 plate 74 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, Figure? shows the pawl. 40 in engagement with the ratchet 41 and moving the latter in the direction of the arrow on its forward stroke; Figure 8 shows the limit of the stroke with the finger 81' to the left of the pawl-lug 72, the spring 83 "allowing the finger 81 to snap by the lug 72in the clockwise movement of the pawl 40 1 and ratchet 41. Upon the return stroke, the pawl 40. is lifted from the ratchet tooth by the lug 72 passing over the finger. 81, as shown in Figure 9, and the latclrlug 45 is immediately raised by-the coil spring 45 as shown in Figure 9 by the arrow, which spring is secured between the pin 85 affixed to the lower end 36 and thepin 86 afiixed to the'lower end'51 of the bell-lever 43. The pawl tip 47 is brought down into engagement with the shoulders 46 so that p awl40 and latch 45 oscillate in unison in the normal operation of my improved device.

The operation of the hereinbefore described pile-delivery governor mechanism is substantially as follows: When the successive sheets are being delivered to the table 19 by the chains 17 and deposited thereon to form the pile 20, the crank-plate 33 makes a single revolution with each sheet deposited on the table, and through the rod 35 oscillates the bell-crank lever 36% which. causes a single reciprocation or stroke of the pawl 40 over the ratchet 41, such pawl being normally disengaged from the ratchet through the pawl-tip 47 resting firmly on the shoulder 46 of the latch 45. The oscillation of the bell-lever 36? causes the other. bell-crank lever 43 to oscillate in unison, thereby raising and lowering the rod 52' once in eachoscillation or 'cycle'of operation; and through the bell-lever 53, rod 55, and rock-arm 56 causing the lug 60 to swing. back andforth just above the stop-finger 68 when in its lower position as shown in Figuresl and 2 with the point of the screw contacting with the under side of the ledge 67. As the pile 20 is gradually built up by the addition of successive sheets from the chains 17, the detector arm 7 O finally comes in contact with the top rear margin of the pile as shown in Figure 6, and with the addition of further sheets is slightly raised until the tip 69] of the stop-finger 68 is brought into the path of the oscillating lug 6Q and the tip 69 enters the notch 61. Such engagement immediately arreststhe oscillation of the lug 6 01 and of the bell-lever 43. Su chinterference once unla l -s he P ula ti e ia -etc t5. a

of the invention.

allows the, pawl 40 to engage the pile-lowering ratchet 41 for one stroke as shown in Figure 7, which is, of suificient length to lower the pile-receiving table 19 and pile 20 one-half inch or more through the clockwise rotation of the ratchet 41 and gear 30 connected with the table-lowering mechanism; heretofore described. Such table lower- 8 ing chains 22 are unwound sufiiciently to entirely clear the pile 20 from contact with the detector arm 70 which has a very limited range of vertical movement, in fact just enough to clear the stop-finger 68 from the path of the oscillating lug 60. As the pawl 40 approaches the end of its forward stroke as shown'in Figure the finger 81 is yieldingly snapped to the left of pawl-lug? 2 so that when the pawl 40 starts its return stroke (to the left), the lug 72 rides upwardly over the beveled sideof the finger 81 as shown in Figure 9'raising the pawl 40 out of engagement with theratchet 41, and allowing the shoulder 46 .of the latch-lug 45 to rock to the left and resume its normal supporting position beneath the pawl 40' to hold the latter out of engagement with the ratchet 41. before explained the extent of the verticalmovement of the, detector, arm 70 to control thefrequency and extent of the table lowering maybe regulatedby the ad justing screw 65 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. I i

The action of my pile delivery governor is both automatic and intermittent, and the growthof the pile, through the final raising of the detector arm directly controls and actuates the mechanism connected with the table-lowering devices proper, the pawl 40 being automatically pressed into engagement with the ratchet 41 only when the ac- ,Y

vantageous to reduce the speed so that. this pawl'would oscillate only once in several revolutions of thepress which would allow the worm gearing for lowering the table 19 to move at slower speeds and also with less likelihood of over-running.

-Whilethe construction herein described embodies the invention in its preferred form ll'i Wlll be understood that changes and variations may be made in the various parts without departing from the principles and scope I claim as myin-vention: I 1. In a sheet-delivery "a receiving table, means forlowering same normally held inoperative and means normally held against actuation in one direction but moved by the *Whdlllldlfid P le; Q Sheets above a" prede- 7 each cycle of operation, means comprising a reciprocating latch normally holding said table-lowering means inoperative, latch-controlling means positively held against actuation in one direction but moved by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height to inaugurate the action of said table-lowering means, and means for automatically resetting said latch.

4. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for automatically lowering same in each cycle of operation, means comprising a reciprocating latch normally holding said table-lowering means inoperative, latch-controlling means positively held against actuation in one direction but moved by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height to inaugurate the action of said table-lowering means, and means for automatically resettingsaid latch before the next cycle of operation.

5. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same normally held inoperative, and means comprising a detector normally out of contact with both the pile of sheets and said table-lowering means for inaugurating the action of the latter, but actuated when the accumulated pile raises the detector to engage said last-mentioned means.

6. In a sheet-de1ivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same normally held inoperative, and means comprising a detector normally out of contact with the pile of sheets and said table-lowering means for inaugurating the action of the latter, but actuated whenever the height of the pile exceeds a predetermined point and raises such detector.

7. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same normally held inoperative, means comprising a detector normally out of contact with the pile of sheets and said table-lowering means for inaugurating the action of the latter, but actuated whenever the height of the pile exceeds a predetermined point and raises such detector, and means for varying the range of such detector.

8. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means operable by the delivery comprising a reciprocating pawl and ratchet connection for automatically lowering the table in any cycle of operation normally held out of contact, and a detector normally out of contact with the pile of sheets and said means for allowing said pawl to engage the ratchet when the accumulated pile raises the detector to throw said means into action.

9. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means operable by the delivery comprising a reciprocating pawl and ratchet connection for automatically lowering the table in any cycle of operation normally held out of contact, a detector normally out of contact with the pile of sheets, said means for allowing said pawl to engage the ratchet when the accumulated pile raises the detector to throw said means into action, and means for re setting said pawl out of contact with said ratchet before the next cycle of operation.

10. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means operable by the delivery comprising a reciprocating pawl and ratchet connection for automatically lowering the table in any cycle of operation normally held out of contact, and a detector normally out of contact with the pile of sheets, said means for allowing said pawl to engage the ratchet when the accumulated pile raises the detector to throw said means into action, and means for resetting said pawl out of contact with said ratchet at the beginning of the return stroke of said pawl.

11. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same and a detector positively held against actuation in one direction but intermittently actuated by the accumulated pile of sheets for controlling the action of said table-lowering means.

12. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same and a detector .positively held against actuation in one direction but intermittently actuated by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height for controlling the action of said table-lowering means.

13. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same and an adjustable detector positively held against actuation in one direction but intermittently actuated by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height for controlling the action of said table-lowering means.

14. In a sheet-deliver a receiving-table, means for lowering same, a detector intermittently actuated by the pile of sheets whenever said pile exceeds a predetermined height, and means to vary the throw of such detector.

15. In a-sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means operable by the delivery comprising a reciprocating pawl and ratchet connection for automatically lowering the table in any cycle of operation, a latch reci rocating in unison with said pawl to hold the latter from engagement with said ratchet, and means actuated by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height to arrest the reciprocation of said latch to allow said pawl to engage said ratchet.

16. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means operable by the delivery comprising a reciprocating pawl and ratchet connection for automatically lowering the table in any cycle of operation, a latch reciprocating in unison with said pawl to hold the latter from engagement with said ratchet, means actuated by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height to arrest the reciprocation of said latch to allow said pawl to engage said ratchet, and means for resetting said latch and pawl upon the return stroke of said pawl.

17 In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means operable by the delivery comprising a reciprocating pawl and ratchet connection for automatically lowering the table in any cycle of operation, a latch reciprocating in unison with said pawl to hold the latter from engagement with said ratchet, means actuated by the accumulated pile of sheets above a predetermined height to arrest the reciprocation of said latch to allow said pawl to engage said ratchet, and means for resetting said latch and pawl upon the beginning of the return stroke of said pawl.

18. In a sheet-delivery, a receiving table, means for lowering same normally held inoperative, means actuated intermittently and positively by the accumulated pile of sheets at a predetermined height to inaugurate the action of the table-lowering means, and means to adjust said inaugurating means to difierent heights.

' CHARLES W. HARROLD. 

